274

Chapter 274: Since You've Seen Me, Why Don't You Kneel?

"Old Feng."

Li Muxiu sat dazed in his courtyard, his mind buzzing, feeling a sense of loss.

He never imagined that his old friend, who had roamed the jianghu so freely for half his life, would actually fall into the hands of the Buddhist sect.

His Heaven and Earth No-Trace Technique, even Li Muxiu couldn't catch up with it.

His Godly Concealment Technique allowed him to blend into nature, making him as elusive as a fish in the sea, whether in bustling cities or remote mountains.

Even the heavily guarded imperial palace was no obstacle for him, coming and going without a trace.

But now, he was captured by the Buddhist sect.

The news came from a disciple of Mount Wuliang, undeniably true, forcing Li Muxiu to believe it.

Old Feng, how could you fall like this? Li Muxiu slowly clenched his fists, his eyes moist, the extreme pain spreading in his chest, tearing at his heart.

He sat there for half a stick of incense, then stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

First, he went to the ancestral hall, seeing his fifth brother, Li Qingzheng, sitting alone at the chessboard.

Li Qingzheng, who was playing chess alone, looked up at Li Muxiu.

Their eyes met, both showing a hint of sorrow before collecting their emotions.

When they used to meet, there was often that lively young figure around, but now, he was gone.

"Second Brother, what brings you here?" Li Qingzheng forced a smile.

Li Muxiu's face was somber, "I came to see our ancestors, to ask for their forgiveness."

"Forgiveness?" Li Qingzheng's eyes narrowed.

Li Muxiu walked towards the ancestral hall, his steps heavy, moving slowly. When he crossed the threshold, he paused briefly before stepping over it.

Li Qingzheng said nothing, just watching him closely. He seemed to sense that his once rebellious second brother, who was not favored by their father, was about to do something drastic again.

"Unfilial descendant, paying respects to the ancestors."

Li Muxiu knelt on the mat before the golden plaques, bowing his head deeply.

The plaques trembled slightly, but no ancestor appeared. After all, manifesting required consuming residual soul energy, only done for significant matters.

"What is it?"

A stern voice emanated from the plaques, unclear which ancestor it was.

After the battle in Qingzhou City, many ancestors had burned their souls, some dissipating, others left with weakened residual souls, now in slumber. Only a few stronger souls remained awake.

Li Muxiu's face twitched slightly before he explained his intentions.

"You want to leave the Li family?"

The ancestor was shocked.

Li Qingzheng, too, was stunned, staring at Li Muxiu in disbelief.

"Nonsense, what are you saying?!"

Another golden residual soul manifested, burly and full of anger:

"Didn't you cause enough trouble in your youth? Just a few years sitting in the Li family, and you're causing problems again? Do I need to discipline you in front of our ancestors?!"

"Father."

Seeing the residual soul, Li Qingzheng quickly knelt, a rare look of fear in his old eyes.

Though in his eighties, he still felt the same fear he did in his youth before his father, a deep-rooted reverence.

Hearing the angry voice above, Li Muxiu felt a chill, recalling a snowy night when he knelt in the courtyard, outside the main hall, listening to his father's scolding, his mother's pleading, and his siblings' intercessions.

Back then, he was defiant, filled with resentment.

But over the years, he had come to terms with it, knowing he was partly at fault.

That night, his older brother, whom he had once envied, secretly brought him a bowl of steaming braised pork noodles after their father left the dinner table.

Even now, he remembered it as one of the most delicious meals he had ever had.

The other two were the grilled fish by the lakeside young man and the soup made by the woman who nursed his wounds after slaying a demon in his youth.

Unforgettable tastes.

Thinking of that snowy night, he remembered his brother's dissipating figure beyond the pass, tears welling up in his eyes. He bowed deeply, forehead touching the ground, inhaling the dusty scent.

"Father, I have no choice. I promised an old friend, I can't let him down…"

"But he's a thief!"

The golden soul roared, "Didn't you suffer enough from those scoundrels you befriended in your youth? They used your connections, borrowing our family's name to wreak havoc, amassing wealth. Haven't you learned your lesson?"

"That was my youthful ignorance, not understanding people. But this is different. He's different. Though a thief, he never exploited our name for his benefit. He's different…"

"But he's a thief!"

The golden soul was furious, "If he were pure-hearted, why become a thief? Stealing others' hard-earned possessions, how can he be good?"

Li Muxiu raised his tear-streaked face, staring at the angry but sorrowful soul:

"Father, there are millions of ways to live. He chose differently from us, but he never harmed commoners, never bullied the weak, and never harmed me."

"Some noble families exploit the people, cloaked in righteousness, making them toil for their wealth, driving them to despair. Their actions are worse than stealing."

"Are you defending a thief? You're becoming one yourself!"

Li Muxiu smiled bitterly, recalling his old friend's words, whispering:

"Those who steal the Dao are saints, those who steal hearts are emperors, those who steal kingdoms are marquises, and those who steal hooks are thieves… He has his principles. He's different."

"You… haven't changed a bit. The family has just suffered calamity, demons are rampant, the wild gods will return. At this time, you leave the family? How can you face your brothers, your mother?"

Li Muxiu closed his eyes in pain, bowing again:

"I must save him, but I don't want to involve the family. If the family is in trouble, I will be the first to stand up, the first to fall."

With that, he pressed his forehead to the ground.

The golden soul was furious, about to speak, when another voice interrupted.

"Let him go."

"Father!"

The golden soul turned, stunned.

"The children bear too much. Don't deny them the right to friendship. Loyalty to a friend is also a rare virtue."

The other golden soul's voice was gentle.

Hearing this, Li Muxiu's tears fell, soaking the ground.

He bowed thrice, looking up at the burly golden soul, seeing the complex emotions of anger and sorrow in its eyes.

"Since your grandfather says so, go ahead. But don't talk nonsense about leaving the family. Finish your business and return. At worst, I'll use my life to cover for you!" The golden soul gritted its teeth.

Li Muxiu's heart trembled, bowing deeply, "I will return to repent."

He hurried out of the ancestral hall, not daring to linger, fearing his guilt would hold him back.

"Second Brother, come back alive."

Li Qingzheng transmitted.

Li Muxiu heard, not stopping, donning a black iron mask from the void.

The mask, a divine weapon, concealed his aura, revealing only bloodshot eyes filled with sorrow, turning sharp and murderous.

He suddenly regretted not being so decisive two years ago when the young man left home, to stop him and seek justice.

The constraints of the family had also held him back.

...

Mount Wuliang, on the border of Qingzhou.

Though on the border, it thrived, connecting two provinces.

Mountain ranges formed ridges, peaks shrouded in mist.

Towering peaks resounded with distant bells.

Stone paths, like white dragons, connected peaks, spreading like a web.

This extension was known as the Pure Land.

Pilgrims flocked, carts moving from muddy paths to paved roads, appreciating the difference, feeling closer to the peaks and the chanting, sensing a peaceful, pure land.

Golden Buddhist light shimmered from some peaks, the glow of divine weapons.

The news from Mount Wuliang spread, drawing people on their way.

In the sky over Qingzhou, a fiery red figure, wrapped in flames, sped toward the mountain.

Quickly, it entered the sacred land of the Buddhist sect.

Nearby cities and towns were dotted with temples.

Though demons had attacked Qingzhou, this area remained untouched, as demons dared not provoke the Buddhist sect while dealing with the God General's Mansion.

This strengthened the faith of nearby residents, grateful for the Buddha's protection.

Swoosh! Li Hao and the Candle Fire God bypassed the outer gate, facing a divine array.

The Candle Fire God, cloaking its aura with a Dao domain, passed through the array undeterred.

Li Hao did the same with his Dao domain, concealing Yanyan, entering effortlessly.

Before them lay vast peaks, shrouded in mist, and in the distance, a towering peak surrounded by others.

This was the Buddha's sacred mountain.

The Candle Fire God, aflame, raced toward it.

In the sacred mountain, the Buddha, seated on a golden lotus, his golden script halting.

He opened his eyes, gazing beyond the sacred hall, through layers of barriers, seeing the uninvited guest.

"Guests have arrived. Go greet them."

The Buddha's golden eyes turned, smiling gently.

The three Bodhisattvas beside him were startled, bowing in response, then flew out of the hall, sensing the powerful aura approaching.

"The Candle Fire God!"

"That boy."

"He really came."

The three Bodhisattvas exchanged glances, Lin Wujiang's eyes flashing with surprise, then a smile.

Unexpectedly, the boy came for a thief, as the Buddha had foreseen.

In a flash, the three figures disappeared from the sacred mountain.

Meanwhile, Li Hao, on the Candle Fire God, crossed numerous peaks, rushing toward the sacred mountain.

"Stop!"

Suddenly, three figures appeared, blocking their path.

Li Hao's eyes turned cold, recognizing them as the Bodhisattvas, each a Four-standing Realm expert.

"Who are you?"

Lin Wujiang feigned ignorance, smiling.

Li Hao, recognizing the Bodhisattva who had supported Li Qianfeng at the True Dragon Banquet, coldly said, "With such a disaster in Qingzhou, right by Mount Wuliang, you don't recognize me?"

Lin Wujiang's face changed, showing realization, "Ah, General Hao Tian. No wonder you looked familiar. What brings you to Mount Wuliang?"

"Fuck your mother!"

Li Hao, seeing the pretense, cursed, "Don't play dumb. Don't block my way. Where is the Buddha?"

The three Bodhisattvas' faces changed, not expecting such fiery temper, without any courtesy.

"Are you here to plead for that thief?"

Lin Wujiang squinted, "General Hao, with your current status, don't ruin yourself."

Li Hao stared at him, "When you took him from Tianmen Pass, didn't you know our relationship? Stop pretending!"

"General Hao, mind your language. This is sacred ground, be respectful." Another Bodhisattva said coldly.

"Scram!"

Li Hao's eyes glared, his Dao domain suppressing, sending the Bodhisattva flying hundreds of meters, spitting blood.

"With friends, I drink and compose poems, treating them with respect. With you bald donkeys, cursing you dirties my mouth!"

"General Hao, remember your status. Do you want to start trouble for a thief?"

"Let's see if you're worth the trouble!"

Li Hao's eyes turned cold, his aura erupting, making the three Bodhisattvas pale, feeling an urge to kneel.

They were terrified, knowing the boy was formidable, but experiencing the disparity firsthand.

Moreover, the boy was ferocious, without courtesy, utterly ruthless.

With a glance, he sent the three Bodhisattvas reeling. Li Hao didn't waste time, riding the Candle Fire God to the sacred mountain.

The grand Buddha hall stood majestic, golden and solemn.

Li Hao's eyes were cold, sensing the immense, restrained aura within, as deep as the sea, emitting pure, righteous energy.

"Stop, this is sacred ground. Even as a general…"

The four guardians at the hall's entrance saw Li Hao's fierce approach, rushing to block him, shouting.

"Since you know my status, how dare you block me? Scram!"

Li Hao's eyes turned cold, stepping forward, his aura forcing the four guardians against the wall, unable to move.

Li Hao, stirring the fallen leaves, stepped into the hall.

Standing at the door, he seemed to block all light from entering.

He saw the great figure seated on the golden lotus, the Buddha.

Their eyes met, one pure and gentle, revealing nothing, the other sharp, unmasking his emotions.

"General Hao."

The Buddha smiled gently.

"Buddha, I am a duke. Since you've seen me, why don't you kneel?"

Li Hao's eyes were icy.